As we begin a new teaching term, we wanted to remind you of some key sources of information and support should you need to resolve any issues with teaching facilities. Colleagues across Professional Services Directorates work hard throughout the year to ensure that teaching facilities are well maintained and in good working order, but we recognise that from time-to-time, issues can arise given the ongoing and regular use of classroom equipment.
Therefore, the following signposts and reminders may be helpful to you as we work together to ensure a safe and attractive campus for all our staff and students.
Maintenance and Service Requests
Estates & Facilities
The Estates & Facilities Directorate has a Helpdesk Reporting facility through which requests for routine maintenance, non-urgent/non-emergency repairs and services can be made.
Urgent and emergency requests during the hours of Monday – Friday (8am – 4pm) should be routed via the HelpDesk on 01224 273333. Outwith these hours, emergency requests should be reported to Security Control on 01224 273939.
IT/Audio Visual Services
Assistance can be sought from the IT Service Desk and Audio Visual Team throughout the year as follows:
IT Service Desk
For general IT support, you can contact the IT Service Desk via the blue Online Chat widget at myit.abdn.ac.uk. Chat is available weekdays, 0800-1630.
You can also email via: servicedesk@abdn.ac.uk, or visit in person on Floor 1 of The Sir Duncan Rice Library and on the ground floor of the Medical Library, Polwarth building.
Further information on locations and opening hours are available on the Service Desk webpages.
Audio Visual Team
The Audio Visual Team can be contacted for support in teaching spaces as follows:
For non-urgent faults and requests, email: mediaservices@abdn.ac.uk
For urgent faults that are impacting teaching, call x3000.
You can do this:
- Within Teams by clicking on the Calls tab on the left-hand side.
- In older teaching spaces, by using the telephone on or near the lectern.
- In newer teaching spaces, by pressing the Help button on the control panel on the lectern, then choosing AV/IT Support, as shown below:
‘How To’ Guides are also available via the Toolkit to support you and your students across a range of IT-related systems and services.
Using Teaching Spaces
Whiteboards
As a courtesy to other room users, whiteboards are to be wiped clean at the end of each teaching session. This avoids any delays to the start of the next class and enhances the learning environment for all who use the facilities. Whiteboards are professionally ‘deep-cleaned’ on an annual basis but ensuring that they are cleaned regularly will extend their lifespan. Should you feel that a whiteboard needs additional deep-cleaning, or you find that a panel is damaged, please report it via the Estates Helpdesk Reporting facility.
Classroom Equipment and furniture
To ensure that teaching spaces are ready for other classes starting on time, it is important that they are left set up as you find them. Therefore, please ask students to replace furniture (tables, chairs, desks etc.) which may have been moved during your session before they leave so that the room is ready for the next users. Please also ensure that you replace any IT equipment that may have been moved and log out of the system so that it is ready for the next user when they arrive.
Teaching Times
As a courtesy to others, and to avoid congestion in corridors, please ensure that classes start and finish promptly at 5 past and 5 to the hour.
Housekeeping
We remain indebted to our colleagues in the Cleaning Services team who play such a vital role in looking after our campus day-to-day and keeping it clean and safe for the University community. All room users are expected to play their part in supporting the maintenance of a clean and attractive learning environment, so please ask students to ensure that they take litter and recycling away with them at the end of your session and dispose of it appropriately. Any issues relating to the cleanliness of rooms should be reported to Estates & Facilities via the Helpdesk Reporting facility or by calling 01224 273333.
If you have any suggestions for how our teaching facilities could be further improved, please send them to the Estates and Facilities Helpdesk.
Thank you for playing your part supporting our teams in ensuring that our teaching spaces are maintained to the highest standards and any issues are rectified as soon as possible.